by Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sports

by Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Mavericks owner made an offhand comment during a radio interview Friday in which he suggested the Los Angeles Lakers should cut Kobe Bryant for salary purposes. A frenzy ensued, with some giving his thought process credence while others tore it apart. The Lakers made a statement denouncing Cuban. Bryant blew the whole thing off.

Now Cuban says what was always obvious: He was giving an example. He never meant to tear down Bryant's abilities or the Lakers' spending habits. But someone has to try to explain the NBA's new collective-bargaining agreement.

"Every time you go anywhere and you try to interface with fans and explain things, it's not as easy task," Cuban said. "And it's not like we're getting any help from the league."

Let's not let this comment be misinterpreted, either. What Cuban is saying is the new deal is complicated. (Don't believe us? Skim Larry Coon's excellent 60,000-word Q&A on it.) He doesn't think the NBA has done a good enough job explaining it, at least to fans. As owners make difficult decisions, they face pressure to explain those decisions to fans.

And if that owner is Mark Cuban, that also might lead to a fun jab at a rival.

Bryant, who will make more than $30 million next year, joining Michael Jordan as the only players to reach such heights, makes for a perfect example. The Lakers already are past the luxury tax threshold, and Bryant's contract was structured under the previous CBA but will have a big impact on things next year.

"Whenever the commissioner or any other team talks about the CBA, they talk about Dallas and Tyson Chandler, or Dallas and Dirk (Nowitzki) and what's going to happen," Cuban said. "You've got to use examples. I was clear in saying it was hypothetical and I expected him to be in L.A., but he was a good example because they have the highest payroll in the league."

In other words, Cuban isn't saying the Lakers should cut Bryant. But Cuban is saying the Lakers have to at least consider cutting Bryant.